Emily Babay

Breaking News Desk

Fake valets are stealing cars in Center City.

The thefts took place on the 1900 block of JFK Blvd. and the 1500 block of Sansom.

The suspect is a black man between 30 and 40, about 5’7 to 5’9 and weighs 140 to 170 pounds.

Philadelphia police are looking for fake valets who are stealing cars from Center City parking garages.

Two incidents have been reported at separate garages in the past week. Police aren't sure yet if the cases are related.

The first theft happened on Wednesday, when a man posing as a valet stole a car at a garage on the 1900 block of JFK Boulevard at about 3:30 p.m., said Officer Christine O'Brien, a police spokeswoman.

After a woman handed over the keys to her 2007 Toyota Camry to the purported valet, he fled with the car, O'Brien said.

The suspect was described as a black man wearing a black coat, dark jeans and a dark hat.

Then, on Friday, a man pretending to be a valet stole a vehicle from a parking garage on the 1500 block of Sansom Street at about 6:30 p.m.

The suspect approached a woman and handed her a ticket. After the woman got out of her 2013 Toyota Rav4 SUV, she noticed the ticket was expired, O'Brien said.

The man said there was a new system for issuing tickets and drove away in the SUV, O'Brien said.

That suspect was described as a black man between 30 and 40 years old, about 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 140 to 170 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket, a black wool cap and glasses.